willful neglect
1
7.9
- noun
- /ˈwɪl.fəl nɪˈɡlɛkt/
- Specialized
:
negligencia intencionada
- No, sorry, toughen up. You may feel that parents have the right to any level of willful neglect of their own children because it's better than some hypothetical thing that could happen elsewhere, but that's not a sane attitude.
Examples
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Displacement due to willful neglect of properties and redevelopment also contributed to the formation of this new enclave by bringing Puerto Ricans from the Clay Hill area to Park Street and its surroundings.
Academic text (1997) -
"I can still testify to your pattern of willful neglect and deliberate misconduct.
Fiction book (1999) -
They have been left to rot through the incompetence or willful neglect of those in charge of them and their affairs.
Academic text (1999) -
"These outcomes are not evidence of flaws of young men, but evidence of willful neglect by federal, state, and local elected policymakers and leaders," said Jackson, who is participating in this week's Congressional Black Caucus legislative conference, which includes education access on its agenda.
Blog text (2) -
The most glaring feature of the decision is its willful neglect of the allegation that Countrywide's representative listed a fake income on the application form he was filling out (and filing) on behalf of Mr. Riggins.
Academic text (2016) -
The court found the organization guilty of willful neglect for failing to provide adequate medical care to the patients under its supervision.
-
Due to her willful neglect, the garden became overgrown and filled with weeds, showing a lack of care for the plants.
-
The children's safety was compromised by the willful neglect of their caregivers, who ignored their basic needs.
Synonyms
61
4.2
Not paying attention to something on purpose
16
8.4
Not doing a duty you must do
1
5.1
Not doing important tasks you must do at work
Antonyms
How Neglectful
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'deliberate and intentional failure to care' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'willful' (intentional) with 'neglect' (failure to provide care). This adjective+noun composition follows standard semantic combination and has clear cross-linguistic parallels, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Willful neglect gives a simple picture: willful means 'on purpose' and neglect means to ignore someone or something you should look after, like leaving a sick plant to dry out. It shows a choice to ignore a duty, so today it describes a 'deliberate failure to look after' someone or something you are responsible for.